This past summer in Saskatchewan was tough on foundations. The dry, drought-like conditions caused the soil to contract and crack. As the winter weather comes the soil expands as it freezes, pushing against your foundation. This can cause your foundation to heave and crack. This year’s mild weather is especially troubling – the constant freezing and refreezing has the soil constantly expanding and contracting, which can cause further stress beyond your average winter. Thawed moisture can also seep into these cracks and when it refreezes it expands, turning small hairline cracks into big ones.

To combat this, it’s important to reduce the amount of moisture around your foundation. Ensure your eaves troughs are clean and that your downspouts are extended to move any rain away from your house (yes, we’re still getting rain so far this winter). Shovel snow away from your house on all sides, not just where you walk. Inspect your foundation inside and outside and repair any hairline cracks that moisture can get in to.

If the weather patterns of the last few years tell us anything, it’s that we may experience freeze/thaw cycles during a Saskatchewan winter. It’s important to keep your foundation in good condition to deal with the constant contraction and expansion. Our team can help keep your foundation in tip top shape – contact us today for foundation inspection and repair services.

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Put on the pressure

One of the easiest ways to clean your concrete is with a pressure washer. Before you start, be sure to clear your driveway of any loose debris that could go flying when sprayed, potentially hurting people or damaging your car or your house. It’s best to spray with the slope of your driveway so the water runs away from your house and, if you can, runs to your grass and lawn, and not storm drains.

Soak it up

The majority of stains on a driveway are usually car-related – oil, gas and antifreeze are the usual culprits. There are chemicals and commercial cleaners you can purchase but before you do there are actually possible solutions right in your house. Baking soda, cat litter and corn starch all have absorbent properties that can soak up the stains on your driveway. If the stain is fresh and still wet simply apply the powder and let in sit for an hour of two and sweep up. If the stain is dry you can scrub with water and baking soda and then add more baking soda and let sit. You may need to repeat the process several times. It’s also important to do this on a clear day with no wind so your application doesn’t get washed or blown away.

Another popular way to remove stains is to use powdered dish detergent or baking soda and boiling water. Wet the stained area slightly and apply a liberal amount of detergent or baking soda, then pour a pot of boiling water on the stain and scrub vigorously with a stiff-wired brush and rinse off. Again, you may have to repeat this several times to get desired results.

Your driveway is literally one of the first impressions people have of your home, so it’s important to do everything you can to keep it looking its best. If you have any questions about driveway maintenance please contact us and one of our friendly team members will be happy to answer your question!

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The most common culprit is water. It can accumulate in the soil around the foundation, which expands the soil and puts pressure on walls and foundation footings, causing cracks to appear.

While getting caught in the rain isn’t fun for anyone, if you don’t have a proper foundation it can be a disaster for your home. If even a little bit of water enters throughout a damaged or cracked foundation, it can start a chain of events that leads to flooding, and mold and moisture damage, all of which leads to costly repairs.

The next step is to call in the experts. At Textured Terrain, we specialize in Foundation Repairs, specifically:

• Damp proofing/waterproofing
• Wall straightening/bracing
• Cracked foundation repairs
• Underpinning
• Telepost adjustments
• Sump pits
• Knee walls/pony walls
• Grade beams
• Piles

At Textured Terrain, we can make sure that your home has a solid foundation and is waterproof. Call us today for a free estimate: at 306-533-8251. At Textured Terrain, we do concrete and we do it right! texturedterrain.dev

The post We Found Basement Cracks, Now What? appeared first on Textured Terrain.

Protect your biggest investment – your house with us!

Houses in Regina go through a lot. Weather, water, soil, tree roots and natural deterioration of building materials all affect a home’s structure. And for many, the walls of a house move with time and require bracing. If this is happening to your home, then Textured Terrain is your answer for structurally sound basement wall bracing.

Our experienced team will come out and assess your basement and provide recommendations to protect your home from further movement. Call us today for a free estimate 306-533-8251.

The post Basement Bracing Your Answer to a Structurally Sound Home appeared first on Textured Terrain.

If you have an older home, once you rip out the old carpet, lino and whatever is beneath, you may see that the concrete floor has damage due to moisture and cracking. And we’ve seen it all. In this case, you may need a brand new basement floor and Textured Terrain can help. We are the experts in residential and commercial concrete applications. We’re also a certified installer of the best Insulated Concrete Forming Systems (ICF). This means your basement will be more energy efficient than conventional basements because they are structurally stronger, more sound resistant, offer increased fire protection and long term value. Call us today for a free estimate: 306-533-8251. You’ll be glad you did!

At Textured Terrain, we do concrete and we do it right!

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